-Brutal, shocking violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hunger crisis, mass rape. And there will be no peace because the worldwide minerals market (what your Mac and cell phone need to run) have a deeply vested interest in the region.

-Rick Perlstein: "We've been on the verge of what seemed like permanent ideological transformation before."

-The AP has (a quite possibly totally speculative) list of likely Obama cabinet appointments. Three names listed here appeared in the In These Times October cover story, "22 To Know: Our Picks For An Obama Cabinet". The most exciting of those three is David Bonior for Secretary of Labor.

-The Arab world reacts to Obama's appointment of Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. Also, the honeymoon is over: Check out this train wreck of a statement to the Israeli media by Emanuel's father:

"Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," Dr. Benjamin Emanuel was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."

But, maybe his knuckles-bared approach is precisely what is needed for the Dems.

-In case you missed it, we've got the first published post-election piece by Bill Ayers up on our site today (and in our December issue).

-Al Franken needs your money.

Late Friday musing:

Whenever I drink Leinenkugel's (brewed in Wisconsin) I think of the lines from Annie Hall:

Annie: "I'm from Chippewa Falls."
Alan: "Right... WHERE?!?!?"



Have a good weekend.